Wayward

A Memoir of Spiritual Warfare and Sexual Purity

By: Alice Greczyn

Narrated by: Alice Greczyn

When Alice Greczyn's parents felt called by God to exchange worldly employment for heavenly provision, they followed their faith into homelessness with five children and a cat in tow. Homeschooled and avowed never to kiss a man until her wedding day, Alice had plans to escape the instability by becoming a missionary nurse—plans that were put on hold with the opening of an unexpected door: the opportunity to be an actress in Hollywood. What followed was a test of faith unlike any she had prepared for, an arranged betrothal she never saw coming, and a psychological shattering that forced her to learn how to survive without the only framework for life she had ever known.

This unique coming-of-age story takes place within a Christian subculture that teaches children to be martyrs and women to be silent. Revelatory, vulnerable, and offering catharsis for your own journey through faith and doubt, Wayward is a deeply intelligent memoir of soul-searching—and finding the courage to live in your own truth.

©2021 Alice Greczyn (P)2022 Alice Greczyn

Honest, endearing, well-written, well-spoken

A must-listen! Alice invites the listener along on an exhausting and emotional journey through a young life with complicated layers, only further complicated by religion's grip on her family. She shares with great vulnerability and honesty, but never without compassion. Her reading performance is outstanding and enjoyable, an easy listen for a hard subject.

An incredibly moving and relatable story

Alice's story is incredibly relateable for anyone raised as an evangelical Christian with fundamentalist parents. For those still deconstructing their beliefs, I highly recommend this book as a lesson from one person's journey out.

And for those who were never evangelicals, this will open your eyes with an in-depth behind-the-scenes perspective from someone who lived it.

The book is extremely well written and the author narrates it perfectly.

Excellent book!

This book is incredibly relatable and I feel like she does a great job pointing out the contradictions a Christian upbringing has and how hard that is on kids and how adults do a lot of stupid shit in the name of god. And she goes the extra mile to point out the psychological issues that certain teachings and issues create within us and how those manifest in us mentally and physically. And she’s given me several more documentary ideas to check out 👀
Listening to her story has been very healing for my story. This is far more than just another compilation of triggering scenarios, it is an analysis of the psychological effects of being raised in a strict religious framework as opposed to an adult being converted into it and it is ideas of how to build a path forward. Highly recommend.

Helpful and inspiring book

I fealt attached instantly, I too grew up in indoctrinated into Christianity and throughout this book I felt like I could identify with much of what she talked about. I am still dealing with detachment a former beliefs, I found this book to be helpful and inspiring, thank you Alice.

This book is amazing!

It is well structured, well articulated, and I would definately recommend it to anyone who has grown up in a strict religious setting.

Quite the Journey

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will highly recommend it to any curious browse.

Don’t miss out!

If you grew up as a conservative, spirit-filled Christian, and have struggled with breaking away or even sharing that you want to, this book will speak to you. I’m a 50 year old woman who was a pastor at 36 years old. After my divorce, my faith, very slowly, unraveled, but just like the author, it felt like freedom! I’ve never had a safe group of friends who understand and relate, and that has been so isolating. I’m inspired now to seek out the resources to gain that support! Thank you, Alice! This was a fantastic memoir!

Couldn't Stop Listening

I had the same background (Vineyard Church) and my heart was in my throat for this entire piece. Grateful for Alice's courageous voice. Now I have some work to do to heal.

Authentic

I felt Alice’s story deeply because it is so similar to my own. Thanks for telling your story Alice!

Fabulous Story Telling | Lover her Voice

I just finished Chapter 2 of Wayward. Simply fabulous. Alice is wonderful at telling a story. I could feel her excitement, her anxiety, and her shame. I remember well the Toronto Blessing. Though I was in the more traditional Assembly of God I lived and pastored a church in Detroit in the 90s and Christians I knew from all over the country were flocking to that sham of insanity. Alice's retelling of her experience is by far the BEST description I have ever read. She captures the feeling of spiritual fury that swirled around this event. Her childhood stories in Chapter 1 reminded me of my own experience with Children's ministry. Except rather than the child I was the "Miss Valarie". Wow the memories that Alice's writing brought back to me are overwhelming. Now that is good writing, good storytelling. Thank You, Alice.